Keira: What happened to Cecily Sutton’s father (or at least give our readers a little bit of background info)?

KK: Cecily’s biological father is elven Lord Breden, wielder of the blue scepter with power over sea and sky. He rules over the land of Dewhame, riddled with rivers and fountains and ponds. Her adopted father is Lord Thomas Althorp, a half-breed elven who is a spy for the Rebellion, and rescued Cecily and her mother from Lord Breden, who wanted to destroy his daughter because she inherited enough of his power to threaten his rule. Thomas fell in love with Cecily’s mother, and hid both of them away in a small village.

Keira: Giles Beaumont, a blacksmith, is definitely a character that had depth and many layers. Can you discuss his development, and why he’s the perfect guy for Cecily, even though they both fight their attraction at first?

KK: Giles is a bit vain, a bit arrogant, which is a result of the beauty he inherited from his elven blood. He also longs for freedom, adventure, and revenge… completely opposite goals from what Cecily wants out of life. In the beginning of the book, they definitely aren’t perfect for each other. But love conquers all, and as they both grow and change, they find they are better together than they ever could have been apart.

Keira: Tell us a bit about Giles’ cursed sword (not that sword – get your mind out the gutter! Haha, JK!)

KK: LOL, JK! Okay, Giles inherited the sword from his father, who used it to try and kill an elven lord, but failed. His brother, who inherited a great deal of magic, forged it with his own blood, and was murdered by the elven lord as well. Giles swore to avenge both of their deaths, and took the sword for that reason. The blade lusts for blood, drinks it greedily, and often seems to have a mind of its own.

Keira: Cecily is incredibly magical—which gives her great power, but is also a threat to her. What sort of magic does Cecily have access to and why does it make her important to the Rebellion?

KK: Cecily’s powers over the element of water are a match to Lord Breden himself. She can call it, shape it, and almost breathe it. Many half-breeds inherited the power to control water, but not with the strength that Cecily can command it. But she also inherited the power of the sky, a unique ability to call a storm that only her elven father possesses. This makes her an important weapon for the Rebellion, who is trying to free England from the elven lords, and a major threat to her elven father, who relies on his magic to rule his sovereignty.

Keira: As Giles and Cecily travel throughout the Elven realms, they run into a lot trouble. What is one of your favorite scenes from their journey to London?

KK: I love the one in the magical cavern, where it’s revealed how much these two really know about each other. But I think my favorite is after Cecily is attacked by the water monster, and Giles thinks she’s going to die. This is the first time he acknowledges his feelings for Cecily, and although he tries, there’s no going back for him after this point.

Keira: Are there any scenes from the book that were cut that you wish had stayed in?

KK: My editor, Deb Werskamn, has never cut any of my scenes. What she does is make them stronger, especially my characters. Needless to say, I adore her.

Keira: How do you define love?

KK: The melding of two souls who are incomplete without each other.

Keira: What’s next in the Elven Lords series?

KK: Book three in the series, The Lord of Illusion, about a scholarly man who sets out to free a woman enslaved in Dreamhame castle, which sets in motion the events for the final battle in the Rebellion’s fight to free England. It will be in stores February 2012!

THE LADY OF THE STORM BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES AUGUST 2011

Giles is bound to protect her…

In a kingdom viciously ruled by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.

But duty soon turns to desire…

When Cecily’s father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire—and the search for Cecily’s father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever…

Kathryne Kennedy is an acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at www.kathrynekennedy.com. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Arizona, where she is working on the next book in The Elven Lords series, The Lord of Illusion (February 2012).

GIVEAWAY: I have 2 copies of The Lady of the Storm. That means 2 winners!To enter: Leave a comment on sexy elves!Open to: US and Canadian readers.Last day to enter: August 25, 2011.

Hi Keira! Thank you so much for the interesting interview questions, and for hosting me on your blog for the next week. I’ll be back again on August 25, when the contest ends, to respond to comments. See you then!

I confess that am not a prolific pnr or fantasy reader but I became a fan of the Elven Lord series with THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER. I really love Cassandra & Dominic as a couple. The backstory of this series and creative elements are so captivating. I have been waiting for the next installment. Sounds equally enthralling!

I think it’s the pointed ears that make elves seem so sexy. I know the cover of the Fire Lord’s Lover made Dominic seem pretty yummy and he was even more so when I read the book. This one sounds great also. I’m looking forward to reading it.

I’m now reading The Fire Lord’s Lover and I’m loving it. I would love to read The Lady of The Storm next. Kathryne’s Elves are definitely gorgeous and sexy. I can’t wait to read more. Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

Hi Carol L! So glad you’re loving TFLL. Wanting to read more is music to my ears. :}

A big warm THANK YOU to all you ladies for stopping by and leaving such kind comments. And another big THANK YOU to Keira for the interview and hosting me here at your blog. Such a pleasure! And greatly appreciated!